Batticaloa Tamil political detainees begin hunger strike

Seven Tamil political prisoners began hunger strike from Saturday morning in protest to the assault on three fellow inmates by jail guards, civil sources in Batticaloa said. The protesting prisoners demanded that all detainees be provided with better facilities, detainees should be given separate cells and that harassment of prisoners by prison officials should stop. The protesters added that the hunger-strike will continue until the demands are met.

Three political prisoners, Arumugan Chandrakumar, 23, of Badulla, Thangarajah Kaandeepan, 29, of Peithaalai in Vaalaichchenai and Thevatharsan, 24, of Ka’ruvaarkearni, Vaalaichcheanai were assaulted Friday morning around 10 a.m. by two jail guards Jerome Arulvalan and Nadesan when they complained to the latter the shortage of water in prison for bathing, according to reports.